Ranganaathan introduces IBTL readers with the equations behind
the issue of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant and the controversy
surrounding it.

Brief about TN caste equations: In Tamizhnadu, Dalits have been
oppressed for long period post independence by OBC/BC communities.
The root of the problem lies with Christian missionaries who
converted the Dalits, also part of the OBC/BC communities, but the
OBC/BC never treated Dalits as equal.

So its always Dalit Vs Nadar’s, Dalit Vs Thevar’s, Dalit Vs
Pallar’s (another SC community), Dalit Vs Mudaliyar, Dalit Vs
Gounder, Dalit Vs Vanniyar. There is long list, but demographically
this is the wide context. Irony is that Brahmins rarely oppressed
Dalits, in fact they allowed them free will to live & used to
protect them from these OBC/BC. Post independence, Christian
missionaries propped up OBC/BC against Brahmins, ensured that the
Brahmin population voice was stifled. You may find reference of
Justice Party, Dravida Kazhagam, DMK, which all ensured Brahmin
hatred.

In South TN, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin Dist are predominantly Nadar
community. The class division in Nadars was used by Church to
convert the economically deprived Nadar to Christianity. Also
around 10% of population of Dalits were converted to Christianity.
Church used the caste, to open up caste based churches, but Nadars
controlled the Dalits, through the Church. Though the Nadars were
divided on religious lines, they found themselves unified post
independence during Kamaraj regime & moved on to being a dominant
business community.

History of KKNP : During 1989 DAE through the
local administration started acquiring land for the KKNP project
through Emergency acquisition laws, part of the land for the Plant,
to the extent of 1105.7 Acres of land were acquired from a group of
land owning class of Hindu Nadars. These landlords were promised
jobs, other than the compensation which was provided to them during
acquisition. Promises were given that the project work will
commence in 1992 and the 50 neighboring villages in the District
will get lot of job opportunities and the economy would improve
among the villagers especially the landowners, whose family would
be benefitted by jobs. The then District collector had promised
that at least one person from the landowners would be given good
and permanent job opportunities in the project and their life would
be safeguarded.

These landlords fought for enhanced compensation in Supreme Court
vide I.A. 254/2000 in O.S.No.215/98, which in due course they lost.
There was another issue they won & indirectly the landowners got
compensated by a few crores, though that would be not much of
importance in this context.

Present issues : There are widely 4 issues which I
would perceive as the reason behind this Anti-Nuclear
agitation.

1. The Nadar community stand to benefit because of the plant
being operational. Most of their wards have completed their
education, might get compensated by way of jobs at the plant.

2. The plant is surrounded by villages, the main occupation
being fishing for these folks. Most of these fishermen are
converted Christians, the church depends on these folks for their
survival. The politically connected Owner of trawlers in nexus with
Church priests, wanted fishing activity to continue. The fishermen
would be displaced as the sea would be banned for fishing. Already
every village has a watch tower, set up by the Coast Guard & the
villages are being monitored.

3. For the last few years, there is a group which is very active
in illegal sand mining, to the extent few villages the sea water
has reach the doorstep of the residents, during high tides. The
sand in these areas are rich in radio active material, which is
already being illegally mined, the radio active material separated
& sneaked out through Tuticorin port, thanks to DMK/Sasikala group
who were getting their regular share in this business.

4. Tuticorin port is the most porous port in terms of security,
as it was till few weeks back controlled by a Dalit leader
Pasupathi Pandian, who was involved in various illegal activities
including gun running, smuggling rackets. Pasupathi Pandian was
killed recently by his rival Nadar gang. (Though its another story,
which we do not want to go into details)

The surrounding villagers had been given notice to vacate the area
by the DAE/Local Administration (during DMK regime), but none
discussed with them about rehabilitation nor compensation.

During Aug’11, when the plant was started up for trial
run/inspection, the sesmic activity in the neighboring villages was
violent enough, that the fishermen folks got scared. Also by this
time the Coast Guard started setting up monitoring towers in all
villages, informed the fishermen about the portion of the sea which
they used to venture for their livelihood as ‘No fishing Area’.
This event was narrated by my friend who hails from nearby town
panchayat.

This fear by the fishermen & uncertain future of livelihood was
used by Church/NGO’s to start the agitation. The plan was well
executed, by church as they saw their population being displaced &
thereby they would loose their profession (Am sure you would agree
every church/its priest is like a professional, than hold any
sanctity for God’s message). On the other hand, this project was a
Russian project, which if successful could be replicated in other
parts of this country. The vested interests namely, American majors
were not ready to allow success of this project.

I would not discount that the other two major cartels, namely
smugglers & illegal sand mining mafia would be funding indirectly
to this Anti-Nuclear to protect their interests.

But the main backup is from American Nuclear companies in nexus
with the church, which is playing up. Both of them stand to loose a
lot, for the Church would be without their followers & for Cos,
this success could seal their business promotion. The other two
cartels could use this as political issue for the present AIADMK
govt., as these cartels are predominantly DMK/Sasikala group. TR
Baalu has large interests in Shipping from Tuticorin port, most of
it illegal.

The PMO was well aware of the Church involvement in this issue,
since if you recollect, PMO delegated a senior officer to negotiate
truce with the Catholic Church of India, immediately after the
crisis started.

Another Q, which arises now is that why did this present Govt.
support the Anti-Nuclear forces & pass a resolution in the
Assembly?

After winning thumping majority AIADMK had appeased Christians
throughout TN. (Waiting for the caste based census to reveal
officially the figures of Christians in TN) The Panchayat elections
were scheduled just And when the present CM came to know through
her IB officials that the Church was behind it, she set out imm. To
pass a resolution in the Assembly or else DMK would have started
agitation & created a headache. This was purely to neutralize
DMK.

Conclusion: Anti-Nuclear Struggle could be neutralized by -

1. GOI/DAE should take into confidence the people of the
surrounding areas.
2. Resettle the Fishermen, with alternate profession for their
livelihood.
3. Provide with adequate compensation for the surrounding
villagers.
4. Provide jobs as promised to the Land owners whose lands were
acquired for the plant.

Most of this work has to be done by GOI, but it seems they are not
willing to do anything. The reason could be the American Nuclear
cos. Do not want this project to succeed.